For the week of April 23 - 29, 2003

WR softball team sweeps Filer

Stays unbeaten at home 7-6, 7-1

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By JEFF CORDES
Express Staff Writer

Tough at home, the Wood River High School softball team improved its South Valley Sports Complex record to 6-0 Tuesday with a 7-6 and 7-1 doubleheader sweep over the Filer Wildcats on the Hailey diamond.

Both games counted in the Sawtooth Central Idaho Conference standings, so coach Chris Cey’s Wolverines improved to 12-3 on the season and 4-2 in SCIC play. Filer fell to 7-10 and 2-4 in league action.

The first game was a struggle for Hailey (7 errors), its fielding problems a carryover from Saturday’s 5-3 and 5-4 twinbill loss at Buhl. The teams played through a rainstorm but the Wolverines gutted it out.

Trailing 4-1 in the third, Wood River got one back when Koree Hawkes (2 hits, 3 runs) tripled and scored. In the fifth, Hawkes drew a walk, Kelly Haisley (2 runs) singled and leadoff Ashley Washburn knocked an RBI single fueling a three-run inning for a 5-4 Hailey lead.

Singles by Emily Smith and Hawkes started a two-run sixth for a 7-4 Wolverine lead, then the Hailey defense snuffed out a Wildcat rally in the seventh to preserve the 7-6 win.

It was a productive day for the 7-8-9 batters in the Wood River order—Smith, Hawkes and Haisley—who scored five of the seven runs.

Wood River senior pitcher Aubrey Kirtley (7-2) finished with a 100-pitch six-hitter with six strikeouts. Filer’s Janae Hymas (5-4) was nearly as good, allowing only six hits but walking five. And then Hymas turned around and pitched the second game.

In the nightcap, Hailey junior Chandin Persaud (5-1) was in control. She retired the first nine Wildcats and finished with an 86-pitch four-hitter featuring seven strikeouts and no walks. Filer broke up the shutout bid with a run in the seventh.

The outcome was still in doubt in the fifth. Leading 2-0, Wood River (9 hits) scored three insurance runs.

Joni Chatterton (2 hits) ripped a 1-2 Hymas pitch into left center for a single. Two Wildcat infield errors loaded the bases with one out. A wild pitch brought Chatterton home. Then lefty swinger Smith (2 hits) laced an opposite-field, two-run single that bounced just inside the left field line.

An RBI double by Washburn (2 hits) made it 6-0 in the sixth, then Wood River’s defense wrapped up an errorless game by holding off the Wildcats in the seventh frame.

Wood River entertains the Declo Hornets Saturday, April 26 for one SCIC varsity game at 11 a.m. at South Valley Sports Complex.

 

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